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Which medical problems can trigger disseminated intravascular coagulation?
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bleeding and blood clotting
Red blood cells (erythrocytes) trapped in a mesh of fibrin threads. Fibrin, a tough, insoluble protein formed after injury to the blood vessels, is an essential component of blood clots.
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is an acquired condition characterized by the widespread consumption of platelets and clotting factors, which ultimately leads to a severe bleeding disorder.1
The activation of the coagulation system in DIC can be triggered by several primary medical problems, including:
- Infections: Bacteria and bacterial products.1
- Tissue Damage: Dead or injured cells resulting from major surgery or significant tissue trauma.1
- Obstetric Complications: The presence of cells from the placenta or a dead fetus.1
- Malignancy: Certain forms of cancer.1
- Envenomation: Venom introduced through snakebites.1
In this state, the body's fibrinolytic system—which is responsible for dissolving clots—is also activated, causing the destruction of fibrinogen and existing fibrin clots. Effective management of DIC requires identifying and removing the underlying inciting cause that triggered the system's activation.1